The Star. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12, 1876.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2435, 12 January 1876, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 12, 1876.

It is unfortunate that the members of the Drainage Board should be so divided; io opinioti upon the most im. Eortant question that will ever come eneath their notice, more especially as the difference happens at the very outset of their official life. Thereof? upon which they have split is the matter of competitive designs. . Mr Wffi^bt undoubtedly -shows his sense of the importance of speedy action by the spirit of his resolution, though some will be inolined to cavil at the means by f hich he 'would produoe his result^- We cannot see that any good will be gained by throwing open the soheme to general competition. Great delay and some expense will be incurred, besides which there are other objections which are set forth by mem* bers of the Board at their meeting yesterday. The best course for the Board to take is to advertise for an able engineer at a handsome salary (for a first-olass man isneceesarv), who shall make the topography of the District his special study, and in fact become the acting engineer bf the Board. Mr Harman seems to think that if such a man were obtained from outside the Oolony he might refuse the post when he; arrived, a very childish argument. Are. not officers of one kind lid another being continually brought out from England and elsewhere? A man who answers an advertisement, whioh may secure him a lucrative post for life, is very unlikely to stickle at the oountry, particularly a settled district like Christohurch. If the Board entrust their affairs to naefn like)*Mr Carruthers, who serve other masters, they will always be at the nteroy of one who ought to be tbeir servant, not to speak of other objections against that gentleman^ which bave been more than hinted at. At some time or other a permanent engineer must be appointed; even as the matter, stands at present, someone will have to carry out the scheme which Mr Carruthers is to be asked to draw up, and it is most decidedly Letter tbat a man should carry out bis own plan than execute another's. , •Mr Carruthers may agree to draw up a plan, and the Board will then probably think that the possession of a scheme from so eminent an authority will. be quite enough to go upon, and in consequence appoint some second or third-rate engineer, to carry it out. No more fatal mistake oan be made. If theyj, however, resolve to have a firstclass man, why not let hira draw up a design himself, and so save the expense of employing Mr Carruthers. As for the idea that the latter could carry out his own plan, it U sheer nonsense. Mr Carruthers must have his hands full of Government business ; we hardly think that even Mr fright would propose such a thing. The outcome of all the talk yesterday is that tho Chief Engineer will be asked upon what terms he will furnish a comprehensive scheme of drainage. What farther steps will then be taken it is hard to say, but it is a thousand pities tho Board did. not aot in a more independent way, instead of falling back upon the servant of an* other employer. i — •--' < t . — - — *